Its anterosuperior surface is rounded and convex, and forms the larger part of the sternocostal surface of the heart.

The olfactory nerve is sensory in nature and originates on the olfactory mucosa in the anterosuperior nasal cavity.

Once branching from the ophthalmic artery, it accompanies the nasociliary nerve through the anterior ethmoidal canal to supply the anterior and middle ethmoidal cells, frontal sinus, and anterosuperior aspect of the lateral nasal wall.